Letters to the Editors

U.S. should seek justice rather than revenge

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 17, 2001

If it is wrong for terrorists to kill innocent men, women, and children, it is equally wrong for Americans to kill innocent men, women, and children. I urge our leaders to summon the courage to avow that the United States of America will not perpetuate the murder of civilians.

We must pursue justice rather than revenge.
-- Judy Robinson, St. Petersburg

Be careful with our words

While all Americans sat and watched the horrific attack on our country on Sept. 11, we could not find the words to express our grief. It was too much. The pain was too great.

At a time like this, we need to be very careful of the words we use. We must be very careful to not lash out in anger. The headlines blasted out WAR. Remarks were made comparing this attack with Pearl Harbor. It is nothing like Pearl Harbor. At Pearl Harbor it was a country attacking our country. This is a group of terrorists hiding out in different places, attacking from unknown areas.

First of all, we need to identify the ones who are guilty and seek them out. We must be very careful in what we say.

I am reminded of the book Seizing the Moment by James W. Moore where he states: "The right words can bring peace. The wrong words can cause war and destruction. The right words can bring harmony. The wrong words can cause discord and suspicion. The right words can bring healing. The wrong words can cause pain and sickness. The right words can produce love. The wrong words can spread hatred and hostility."

Words are so important and so powerful. Let us all pray for the leaders of our country that they may choose their words carefully -- to heal, to bring peace, to bring harmony and to produce love.
-- Margaret Hyde, Clearwater

Time for tempered responses is over

We are left with few alternatives. The continuation of these despicable acts on our citizens must be stopped. We should not fool ourselves any further. Terrorists are succeeding in a deadly quest to spread chaos among nations. We as a nation will increase security, as we must, and in that end will erode more of our priceless freedom. The actions we will take are precisely what those who attack us desire.

We must remove the threat. There can be no other solution. To this end we as a nation are at war -- a war with no boundaries, no easy targets. We must face the cruel fact that there will be more casualties and more destruction. We did not choose this battle, but now we must choose how to fight. We can bar the doors and shutter the windows on this great nation or we can wage an unlimited war on the armies of terror who stand against us. This is no simple solution, and the price we must pay will be high.

For many years we have tempered our response to aggression in the effort to maintain peace and prosperity in the world. We must now realize that this course of action has only emboldened those who wage war against us. My heart aches at the thought of what now must be done.
-- James Rhodes, Palm Harbor

Uniting against the foe

This is Pearl Harbor all over again. Whoever was truly responsible for this has done nothing more than to bring us together as a nation. We can only hope our Congress can agree to seek full retribution for this cowardly act.
-- James Douglas, St. Petersburg

Our long-suffering workers

Re: Workplace whiners in cushy jobs.

In your Sept. 3 issue, Michelle Markin ridiculed workers, calling them "whiners" for complaining about their stress-related injuries. The article seemed inane to this 68-year-old, and I wondered what work-related experiences Michelle has had. Mine have been from hoeing and picking cotton and other farm "stoop-labor" through various secretarial and store-keeping jobs and ending in teaching elementary children and in day and adult care. I can speak from experience.

The worst work, physically, was a clerk in a convenience store. Some business expert about 40 years ago stated "scientifically" that managers could get more "production" out of their "hired hands" if there were no seats for sitting down. These clerks (and other store cashiers) are on nine-hour shifts, of which they are supposed to work eight and (ha! ha!) take their 15-minute breaks even if they are alone clerk and the doors are open. Any job of constant standing on basically concrete floors causes varicose veins, at least, plus back problems. Recently, in a Key West grocery, my checker was a young woman at least halfway through a pregnancy. I'll never forget her, and grieve that in our nation such people (workers!) are treated so shabbily. In other nations cashiers can sit or stand; they have an adjustable stool.

The Michelle Malkins of our society need to experientially examine their own opinions before they heap insult onto those already injured and abused by management. Our workers are "long-suffering."
-- Nadine Duke, Oldsmar

Intangibles tax cuts help seniors

Re: Democrats call for action on budget gap, Aug. 28.

I read with great interest the comments about Gov. Jeb Bush giving tax breaks to the "wealthiest citizens" of Florida. This reference was made because of the intangibles tax reductions. As a tax accountant who handles the tax needs of individuals and businesses, I can tell you this is absolutely untrue. The people helped most by the intangibles tax reduction are the seniors. They are the ones who did not have pensions available from their workplaces and did not have IRAs available for much of their lives. They put their money in stocks, bonds and mutual funds. This was their only avenue of savings for their retirement. Then Florida says, we do not have a state income tax, but we will tax anyone smart enough to have saved their money in stocks, bonds and mutual funds.

I say, kudos to Jeb Bush for keeping his campaign promises. By the way, the "wealthiest Florida residents" use a tax loophole to move their intangible assets out of Florida at the end of the year and avoid the intangibles tax completely!

Personally, I am thankful that the intangibles tax reduction has helped so many of my small clients, although it means a serious revenue loss for my firm. I hope the public will take the time to tell their elected officials not only to leave the reduction in place, but to get rid of the intangibles tax completely.
-- Patti S. Patrick, Spring Hill

A lame attempt to boost Reno

Re: Don't call her the old she-coon, Sept. 6.

I just finished laughing through Mary Jo Melone's most recent offering to like-minded liberals. She starts off with a foolish attempt to minimize the fact that Janet Reno is ungraceful and awkward by criticizing Katherine Harris' appearance. It's obvious that Melone still can't forgive Harris for upholding the law and abiding by election rules in the 2000 presidential election. Since she cannot criticize her on issues of substance, she must resort to shallow attacks on personal appearance. Yes, Harris made a mistake by overapplying makeup. However, Reno's mistakes include the loss of 80 lives at the debacle in Waco, Texas.

Most absurd is Melone's attempt to compare Janet Reno to, of all people, Barbara Bush! Puleeeze! The American people are fond of Barbara Bush because she has class, charm and represents the consummate mom. Janet Reno has none of the above.

Luckily, the people of Florida will judge Janet Reno not on her style but on her past -- a past that includes being the attorney general during the most unethical administration in our nation's history. For eight years she turned a blind eye to Travelgate, Filegate, campaign finance abuses and selling national security secrets to China. Based on that record, I'm sure Republicans hope she is the Democratic candidate.

It is a wonderful day for Jeb Bush supporters when the best Mary Jo Melone can offer in favor of Janet Reno is to repeat the predictable, boring criticism of Katherine Harris and compare Reno to Barbara Bush.
-- Dorothy Schrage, St. Petersburg

National health care needed

Re: Health care cuts reconsidered, Sept. 7.

Hillsborough County is to be commended for reconsidering the cuts in the indigent health care plan, and it is hoped that money can be found to fully fund the program.

However, ultimately the plan is not sufficient and will never be adequately funded to meet the health care needs of our uninsured citizens. Despite the good economy of the 1990s, the number of uninsured people has increased. In addition, insurance companies are reducing benefits and increasing costs for those who are insured. "Managed care" through commercial insurance doesn't meet our health care needs, and more people will become uninsured or underinsured with our current system.

Only national, universal, non-profit health coverage will address the health care needs of citizens of Hillsborough County and the rest of the country. It's time to stop tinkering with fixes and change the underlying problem.
-- Robert Clark, M.D., chief of radiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center; chair, Department of Radiology, University of South Florida, Tampa

Comic strip will be missed

Re: Johnston, the Pattersons will retire in 2007, Sept. 4.

It is both unfortunate, but realistic that all good things must come to an end. Like it or not, Lynn Johnston portrays life in her comic strip as it is in the real world. I, for one, happen to love it and look forward to reading For Better Or For Worse every morning.

When the final strip appears in 2007, I will greatly miss reading all of the trials and tribulations of the Patterson family. However, I do wish writer and creator Lynn Johnston well in all of her endeavors.
-- JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater

It can't leave too soon

Re: For Better Or For Worse comic strip.

It's difficult to understand why you would allow a return of the gay character in this comic(?) strip when your readers expressed their disgust in 1993.

Beyond that, a couple living together is hardly food for the comics. Yes, we know these situations exist and are generally more widely accepted -- but must we promote it?

Maybe Lynn Johnston should retire in 2001 instead of 2007!

The St. Petersburg Times should have more class!
-- Mary Duggan, New Port Richey

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